Annual 8-mile run was full of aloha

I would like to say a big mahalo for yesterday's 22nd annual Great Aloha Run. On my fourth trip back to Oahu, I decided to try my fate in this 8-mile run along with 23,000 others. I was extremely impressed by the strong showing of so many volunteers, from high school and junior high school bands, to the many hundreds who handed out water to the runners (thank you, Earle!).

It is also a privilege to have run with approximately 5,000 of our bravest men and women who joined the run. From the Star-Spangled Banner to Aloha Stadium, these brave soldiers kept in step singing a variety of military songs.

As we passed the Mighty Mo and the Arizona Memorial, a young Marine troop and a group of Navy submarine sailors passed me. My thanks to them in such a place of honor was enough to choke me up with pride. Thank you to the great state of Hawaii for being such excellent hosts to our troops!

I look forward to taking part in this event next year. Mahalo!

Ed Drew
Ashburn, Va.

Lawmakers must hit crystal meth problem

The other day I heard the former head of prisons and pubic safety say that 85 percent of the prison population was incarcerated due to crystal meth.

I knew the population was high, but that percentage is astounding.

Listening to the legislators' grandiose verbiage about their intentions and priorities, I was shocked and dismayed to hear virtually no politicians speak out about fighting this crystal meth war that is ripping apart the fabric of our community.

Come on leaders. Roll up your sleeves -- prioritize this pervasive problem and take action now!

Jim Reed
Honolulu

What's link between UARC, McClain job?

Star-Bulletin headlines on two successive days read: "McClain gives nod to Navy project" Feb. 17) and "McClain lauded as ideal president" with the subhead: "A UH Board of Regents committee wants to take 'interim' off his current job title" (Feb. 18). Excuse me, but is there any connection between these two stories, or is the timing purely coincidental?

William Bailey
Honolulu

McClain has earned top university job

It is so refreshing to note that some sanity still exists at the University of Hawaii and with the Board of Regents. David McClain has been the obvious choice for president ever since he took over as interim president. His leadership capabilities have been proven and are recognized by people on a national research firm, the chairman of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the UH student body president.

A previous national search resulted in the hiring of Evan Dobelle, who proved to be one of the worst unnatural disasters to hit the state in many years, and we are still paying for it. Give McClain the job and let's get on with making UH all it can be with a man at its helm who really understands Hawaii and the needs of the university.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

Armchair soldiers should enlist in Army

As reported in "Newsweek" (Feb. 20 issue), a group called Progress for America is jumping into the debate over the war in Iraq. PFA will launch a $500,000 TV ad campaign defending the U.S. presence in Iraq. The campaign initially will be aired in Minnesota, where the Iraq war is a pivotal political issue.

If the "warriors" of the PFA are sincere in their belief, they should enlist in the Army, which is desperate for recruits. Like the usual "backline patriots," they do all of the talking and others do the fighting. One day in Iraq with its unseen dangers, sand storms and intense heat will change their opinions.

Anthony Locascio
Honolulu

Listen to the mayor about need for landfill

I seldom agree with Mayor Hannemann these days, but he is correct in stating that the City Council is playing politics by mandating the closure of the Waimanalo landfill, especially when it recently sidestepped the issue of selecting a new landfill location. Clearly some Council members are trying to appease special interests while overlooking the public's best interest.

Like it or not, we are always going to need a landfill. Since the City Council is mandating the closure of Waimanalo, they need to select the new location now. I'm sure funding won't be a problem since this group of sitting Council members is clearly not opposed to tax increases.

Bill Nelson
Haleiwa

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